Fencing is a combat sport derived from the dueling traditions of Europe, and it can be approached as a martial art, a strategy game like chess, a combination of movement and timing similar to dance, or any mixture of all these things.

Fencers can participate in the sport at any level, from local classes up to international and Olympic competition, and at all levels - in addition to being a lot of fun - fencing builds endurance, agility, self-discipline, and confidence.

Fencing matches are fenced to either five or fifteen points, and points are scored by hitting the opponent within certain rules, which vary between the three types of modern sport fencing.

There are actually three styles of combat in the modern sport: foil, epee, and saber. All share the goal of hitting the opponent without being hit, but there are also significant differences between the disciplines.

Foil: The Dueling Tradition of the Nobility

The modern sport of foil fencing is descended from the training European nobles used to prepare for duels. Only hits delivered with a thrust count for points; there is no hacking or slashing, since the blade is too light to use effectively as a cutting weapon. Also, a hit in foil must land on vital areas (considering in modern fencing to be the torso) for it to count as a point. Hits to the arms and legs are discarded, as are hits to the head (which, though effective, were unsafe in sport during the long period until masks were developed).

Foil also features the notion of right-of-way, a rule designed to prevent duelists from simultaneously impaling each other. Essentially, right-of-way is a turn-based combat system dictating that if one fencer launches an attack, the other fencer must block or evade it before launching an attack of his or her own - at which point the fencer who originally attacked is obliged to defend before launching another attack. Back when fencing was used to prepare for actual duels, right-of-way was taken very seriously, and fencers who broke right-of-way in practice could be ejected from training centers. Now, with dueling mercifully out of fashion, right-of-way is much less serious, and there is no penalty for breaking right-of-way in modern fencing. However, if both fencers hit, only the hit from the fencer with right-of-way counts.

Since foilists do not need to worry about protecting their arms and legs, or about an opponent attacking into their attacks, elite foilists are able to launch incredibly complex attacks with bladework that looks like it could be put directly into a movie. The turn-based system of right-of-way also encourages them to shoot these attacks back and forth at each other at blazing speed, sometimes shooting between offense and defense several times a second -- which can make the swordfights in movies seem a little slow.

Epee: Street Fighting

If foil has a lot of rules, epee has almost none. There is no right-of-way, the opponent’s entire body is target area, and as long as a touch is delivered with a thrust, it counts as a point.

Because epeeists need to defend their arms and legs, even during attacks, epee fencers tend to cautiously probe for weaknesses in each other’s defenses, testing for vulnerabilities while simultaneously trying to avoid becoming vulnerable themselves. When epeeists do decide to attack, the attacks tend to be very direct and very fast, making epee matches similar to two snakes circling each other, then suddenly striking.

Saber: Cavalry Training

Saber is derived from military training for combat from horseback, and it is the only weapon in modern fencing that can score points with slashing attacks. Like foil, saber features right-of-way, and everything above the waist counts as target area. Hits below the waist are ignored, a tradition that carries over from trying not to injure the training partner’s horse.

Since the modern saber is light and can score with slashes (reducing the need to aim), elite sabreurs care able to launch incredibly fast attacks that are almost impossible to block. Typically the best defense is to stay out of range, and in a modern saber match the fencers hurtle back and forth along the strip, the attacker striving to get in range for an attack, and the defender striving just as intently to keep that from happening while waiting for a chance to launch an attack him- or herself.

While elite fencers typically specialize in one weapon, intermediate fencers are encouraged to experiment to find the weapon they prefer, and recreational fencers often compete locally in two or all three weapons. At the American Fencing Academy of Dayton, beginners start with foil fencing and are introduced to epee and saber in intermediate classes.

For more information about the sport of fencing, visit the website for the United States Fencing Association, www.usfencing.org.

If you would like more information about the history of fencing, your local library is likely to have By the Sword, a compendium of fencing history, fighting systems, and famous duels written by Olympic sabreur Richard Cohen.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is fencing safe?

A: Fencing is a very safe sport, with excellent safety gear and rules designed to prevent injuries. Anything worse than a sprained ankle is very rare, and there has not been a fencing-related death in North America since the 1800s.

Q: The weather is really nasty. Are we still fencing?

A: Check the website, or call the center where class is to be held.

Q: When and where should I get gear?

A: AFAD has gear available to rent, so you don’t need to get your own gear until you want to. Sets of non-electric (dry) gear, used for practice, typically cost between $110 and $130, and when the benefits of personal gear - guaranteed fit, no searching for gear before class, knowing that only you have used the gear, higher quality - outweigh the cost, talk to a coach about buying some dry gear. Generally, personal dry gear is worthwhile for intermediate fencers. There are many good equipment vendors online, and any of the instructors will be happy to help you find gear that’s right for you.

Sets of electric gear, used for open fencing and practice, typically cost between $125 and $175 on top of dry gear. Once you start competing regularly, or regularly attending open fencing, personal electric gear is likely to be worthwhile. As with dry gear, there are many good vendors and a lot of options available, so talk to a coach about choosing the gear that’s right for you.